Ten

In just a few short hours (about 6 of them to be exact), my first born turns ten. 10. How did that happen? It feels like just yesterday, but also like a lifetime ago. Ten years ago tomorrow, I became a mother. And it will always be my greatest achievement.

Brandon, not a day goes by that I don’t look at you and think how lucky I am to be your mom. I know sometimes I get frustrated because we’re running late (what else is new?!), or you haven’t finished your homework, or you’re fighting with your brother, but before I know it, I’ll miss even that. Someday I’ll miss your commentary as you play video games, or that you always forget to hang up your towel when you take a shower. Or that more often than not you leave your lunch bag at school. In the blink of an eye, you won’t be 10 anymore, and I’ll wish you were. This age where you still let me wake you up with kisses, and you like to cuddle with me on the couch to watch TV. This time when you still sleep with a stuffed animal, and the most important things in your world are Mario Brothers and Legos.

Before I know it, all these moments will be in the past, and I will long for you to be 10 again. But right now, I’m savoring every second of this milestone, the day you hit “double digits”. Even decades from now, you’ll always be my baby boy, the perfect little thing that made me a mommy, and I will always be grateful for that amazing blessing.

2 Responses to Ten

10 Years ago today your presence in this world made me become a grandmother. I had told your mother throughout her pregnancy that I was not ready to be a grandmother, that I didn’t want you to call me “Grandma”, that you were to call me tia or something else… That changed the minute I met you and held you briefly in my arms and saw your big beautiful eyes. God gave our family a lifetime present that day; a sweet, intelligent, loving boy, our Brandon, whose birthday we are celebrating today! Brandon, I know you will continue to grow into the special human being that you are shaping up to be and I hope we have many more years together to travel, play Parchissi, Jenga, and many other things, but over all to enjoy every minute of them. I love you, papi! Happy Birthday!